Herne Bay have been hit by a mounting injury crisis just two weeks into the new Ryman League, Division 1 South season.

Boss Sam Denly has seen his 20-strong squad decimated, with Jordan Casey (hamstring) and Gary Sayer (ankle), the latest additions to the casualty list after both were injured in the 3-1 win over Walton Casuals on Saturday.

Ben Brown started that game, despite being only 80% fit, only to aggravate his ankle problem, while Danny Walder is suffering from a knee injury.

Meanwhile, defender Connor Sanders is nursing a dislodged shoulder blade and damaged ligaments after being injured, having scored the winner against Hythe last week. He is due back at hospital in the next few days.

Jamie Turner is also due to see a specialist after being ruled out by a long-term ankle injury, which has sidelined him for five months.

Denly admitted: “It’s not a great way to start the season but it seems there are a lot of injuries around early season and other clubs are in the same position. I have been making a lot of calls trying to get somebody in on loan.”

However, he refused to use injuries as an excuse for Bay’s 3-2 defeat at Three Bridges on Tuesday night which ended his side’s unbeaten start.

Stuart King’s second-half double helped them recover from being 2-0 down at half-time. But Bay had defender Harry Brown sent-off for two bookable offences, with the West Sussex side getting the winner three minutes later.

Denly said: “The game was lost in the first half and we could have been three or four down. We let them play too much and were off the pace and you can’t be that poor for 45 minutes and expect to win games.

“I had words at half-time. We rolled up our sleeves in the second half and were excellent and had chances to go ahead but the red card killed us. It was hard to take.”

Bay are at home to Walton & Hersham on Saturday, before they visit Faversham on Monday. Both games start at 3pm.